Huernia brevirostris

Scientific Name

Huernia brevirostris N.E.Br.

Synonyms

Huernia brevirostris subsp. brevirostris

Scientific Classification

Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Stapeliae
Genus: Huernia

Description

Huernia brevirostris is a low-growing succulent closely related to Huernia thureti. The stems are erect, glaucous green, crowded in fairly large clumps of up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long stems with small acute triangular tubercles ending in a fleshy tooth.

The flowers are cup-shaped, up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) across, with pale greenish-yellow to dull yellow petals finely spotted with red. They arise at the base of the stems. The corona at the center of the flower is dark purple.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Huernias require a potting mix with excellent drainage. A succulent plant mix of 50 percent pumice or perlite, 25 percent peat or organic mulch, and 25 percent sand helps prevent rotting and overwatering. Roots experience dieback in cool-season dormancy, so plants grow best in shallow containers that allow the soil to dry out quickly. Using clay pots further helps the soil from staying too wet. An underlayment of coarse gravel below the soil mix also improves drainage. In climates with damp, cool summers, a layer of gravel between the plant and the soil mix also helps prevent the stems from staying too moist.

Outdoor plantings do well in raised beds. Huernias prefer bright light or partial shade. In nature, they grow underneath shrubs or other plants. Too much sun causes stems to develop protective reddish or purple pigmentation and can actually scald the stems. Too little light leads to weak, thin growth with decreased flower production. These plants grow best between 50 and 80 °F (10 and 27 °C). Protect them from freezing weather.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Huernia.

Origin

Huernia brevirostris is native to South Africa.

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